Game Plan

"What is this about, Chad?" Grady asked.

"Yeah, what's this meeting for? I've got my Judo class after this." Zora asked skeptically, glaring at Chad.

"Wait, Judo? I thought you were taking up Karate?" Chad asked back, slightly backing away from the small girl.

"I got my black belt six months ago. I'm on my yellow belt for Judo now and if I don't make it to my class, I'll have to practice it on you." Zora jumped towards Chad fiercely, making him fall to the couch behind him.

"Okay, okay! I called you here because…" he stopped mid-sentence as he looked at Nico staring at himself in the mirror and puckering his lips towards his reflection. "Nico!" Chad said and snapped his fingers. "That's my mirror and we're having a meeting."

Nico retreated from the mirror and winked at his reflection before fully backing away. "What's up?"

They all sat in Chad's dressing room and Chad cleared his throat. "As I was saying, when Tawni over here called me up earlier today, you all said that you think this mystery celebrity is Sonny right? Well, I want to know your theories or what made you think that it's her." Chad smiled widely.

"So, let me get this straight," Zora started, looking at Chad disgustingly, "you called us here to… gossip?" When Chad nodded, she stood. "Okay, I'm out."

"No, no! I wanted to confirm it because I got my personal assistant and a few other people to find out about this mystery person too. Like, who he or she is, where he or she's staying at, working at, the company and everything and I want you guys to help me." He pleaded. "Look, I know you guys want to hear from Sonny too. I know you guys miss her as much as I do." Chad's face suddenly seemed to lose its cheery vibe and turned almost gloomy.

"Chad, as much as we hate you, or hated, or whatever and as much as I hate you for being right… You're right." Tawni slumped. "I do miss Sonny. There's no one to boss around or to look prettier over and I really love being a part of the Check Out Girls but it isn't the same without Sonny. I mean…" she stopped as she noticed how the others were looking at her weirdly for admitting it blatantly. "Okay, stop. It's not like it's impossible. Don't get used to it!"

Grady spoke up almost immediately after Tawni stopped. "I miss her. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have had talk times ever or I wouldn't have met Mel from The Patio after she told me that Sonny was the one who told her my name." he said sadly.

"Yeah, me too." Nico followed.

"Okay, I do miss her. So here's what I know." Zora sat back down and called them a little closer. "I heard Mr. Condor while I was in the air vents doing my daily rounds around the building when he was talking to a business partner most likely. He mentioned that a certain female signed up on board his record label and he asked Mr. Condor if the name Monroe was familiar. He said that she was starting out a career in the music business after flying her in from her hometown and that currently, she's performing at a local club near here. I think that it's Sonny because of a few obvious factors. Number one, it's Monroe. It already narrows down our conclusion. Two, she was flown in from her hometown. Didn't Sonny mention that she'd most likely return to Wisconsin to return to her normal life? Most likely!"

"Wait," Nico cut her off, "if she wanted to return to her normal life, she wouldn't be here in Hollywood now, wouldn't she? I mean, this isn't exactly her 'normal' life."

"Well, that's why it's a conclusion, isn't it? We're just stating what we know!" Zora answered matter-of-factly.

"Okay, okay, anything else?" Chad asked, urging her to continue.

"Lastly, although it might be a long shot, he said something about a music career."

"So?" Tawni questioned.

"So… isn't Sonny a talented performer? I mean, she did sing at The Patio and everyone gave her a standing ovation. It's possible isn't it? And she's been writing even before we met her so it may be that she's taking a different approach to stardom."

"It's possible." Chad said thoughtfully. "So, what's the plan?"

"Well, we can hunt down that businessman and ask him forcibly!" Zora asserted.

"Or, we can forget doing it ourselves and let the media find it out for us so that we can focus on me!" Tawni suggested earning eye rolls from everyone.

"Or we could just ask around and check all the performing bars near here and we can stick around for a bit for some gossip and maybe split up to cover more places, right?" Grady said unsure but with a bit of valor. Everyone turned their heads towards him and stared. "What? Okay, you guys are freaking me out."

"4:30 PM tomorrow?" Zora asked.

"Parking lot. Check?" Nico added.

"I'll get the limo ready." Chad said excitedly.

"I'll wear something so pretty that would make me stand out and would emphasize my being pretty." Tawni said with a twirl of her blonde curls between her fingers.

"That's a plan!" Everyone said together except for Grady. "Meet up tomorrow. See you then." Chad said and everyone stood and started walking towards the door.

"WAIT. What was that about? I don't get it!" Grady asked. Everyone just looked at him again and Chad shook his head. "How?"

Nico walked back towards Grady and put an arm around his shoulder. "Come on, man." He said with a pat to his back. "I'll explain on the way back." And with that, they all left and Chad closed the door behind them. He turned around and put out his phone and opened a photo of Sonny and him together. "Soon. I'll see you soon, Sonny." He muttered under his breath before putting it away and heading for his desk. "Looks like I've got a few calls to make."